Vehicle camera with connector system for high speed transmission

ABSTRACT

A vehicular camera includes a front housing portion having a lens, a circuit board having circuitry established thereat, and a rear plastic housing portion having a connector for electrically connecting to a connector end of a wire harness of the vehicle when the camera is disposed at the vehicle. The rear plastic housing portion includes internal wall structure. The connector of the rear plastic housing portion includes a video signal terminal and a ground-connect terminal. An electrically conductive metallic shield element is disposed within the rear plastic housing portion and corresponds with the internal wall structure of the rear plastic housing portion. The video signal terminal is electrically connected to the circuitry of the circuit board, and the ground-connect terminal is electrically connected to the electrically conductive metallic shield element.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/686,318, filed Nov. 18, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,057,555,which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/467,246,filed Mar. 23, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,484,587, which claims thefiling benefits of U.S. provisional application, Ser. No. 62/313,278,filed Mar. 25, 2016, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference inits entirety. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/467,246 also is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/062,524,filed Mar. 7, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,128,595, which claims thefiling benefits of U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 62/217,118,filed Sep. 11, 2015, Ser. No. 62/204,166, filed Aug. 12, 2015, Ser. No.62/164,619, filed May 21, 2015, Ser. No. 62/154,396, filed Apr. 29,2015, and Ser. No. 62/130,130, filed Mar. 9, 2015, which are all herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a vehicle vision system for avehicle and, more particularly, to a vehicle vision system that utilizesone or more cameras at a vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Use of imaging sensors in vehicle imaging systems is common and known.Examples of such known systems are described in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,949,331; 5,670,935 and/or 5,550,677, which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties. In high speed digital datatransmission in automotive applications, such as sensors or displays orinfotainment systems, shielded coaxial cable is used for its excellentisolation of the signal and ground path from each other, and fromelectromagnetic interference (EMI) issues with adjacent electricalcomponents. The device's PCB typically contains a coaxial header asshown in FIG. 1, and the device's housing would have a mating jack toengage this header. This method of connection to the PCB requiresintricate machining, casting, or stamping operations which increase costand reduce design flexibility.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a vision system or imaging system for avehicle that utilizes one or more cameras (preferably one or more CMOScameras) to capture image data representative of images exterior of thevehicle, and provides enhanced electrical connection between a coaxialconnector and circuitry of a printed circuit board of the camera. Theconnection of the present invention provides a ground clamp that clampsto ground pins of the connector portion of the housing of the camera andthat clamps to a ground shield at the header of the printed circuitboard when the camera is assembled. The connection thus providesenhanced grounding and enhanced electrical connection of the connectorportion to the PCB circuitry, thereby providing enhanced datatransmission, such as for high speed data transmission applications.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a camera for a visionsystem of a vehicle includes a front housing portion having a lensbarrel or lens holder and a rear housing portion having a connector forconnecting to a coaxial vehicle wire harness when the camera is disposedat the vehicle. The connector comprises a signal pin and at least oneground pin or contact (such as two ground pins or contacts, one at eachside of the signal pin). The rear housing portion includes a clampingelement in electrically conductive connection with the ground pins andelectrically isolated from the signal pin. The camera includes a circuitelement (such as a printed circuit board or PCB at the front housingportion) having circuitry established thereat. The circuit elementcomprises a connector header and an electrically conductive shielddisposed at least partially around the connector header and inelectrical connection with circuitry of the circuit element (such as viasoldering of the connector header at circuitry or traces of the circuitelement). The clamping element is configured to engage the electricallyconductive shield when the signal pin and the ground pins engage theconnector header during assembly of the camera, and wherein connectionof the clamping element and the electrically conductive shield providesenhanced grounding of the ground pins of the connector with circuitry ofthe circuit element.

These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of thepresent invention will become apparent upon review of the followingspecification in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a prior art coaxial connector;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a vehicle with a vision system thatincorporates cameras in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a camera in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a printed circuit board of a device,shown with a metal shield at and at least partially around a headerconnector in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a rear housing portion of a device, suchas a camera, shown with a spring clamp at the ground pins of theelectrical connector of the housing portion in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the spring clamp and connectorpins of the rear housing portion of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the rear housing portion, showing theelectrical connection being made between the pins and the header portionand between the spring clamp and the metal shield in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 6A is an enlarged view of the area A in FIG. 6;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a full enclosure shield for disposing inthe rear camera housing to enhance grounding and enhance distribution ofheat within the housing;

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the enclosure shield in its unfoldedstate;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a rear camera housing of the presentinvention, with the enclosure shield disposed therein;

FIG. 10 is a side elevation of the enclosure shield, showinginterlocking elements for reducing gaps in the shield when the shield isdisposed within the rear camera housing; and

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the camera, showing the shield andhousing assembly of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A vehicle vision system and/or driver assist system and/or objectdetection system and/or alert system operates to capture images exteriorof the vehicle and may process the captured image data to display imagesand to detect objects at or near the vehicle and in the predicted pathof the vehicle, such as to assist a driver of the vehicle in maneuveringthe vehicle in a rearward direction. The vision system includes an imageprocessor or image processing system that is operable to receive imagedata from one or more cameras and provide an output to a display devicefor displaying images representative of the captured image data.Optionally, the vision system may provide a top down or bird's eye orsurround view display and may provide a displayed image that isrepresentative of the subject vehicle, and optionally with the displayedimage being customized to at least partially correspond to the actualsubject vehicle.

Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depictedtherein, a vehicle 10 includes an imaging system or vision system 12that includes at least one exterior facing imaging sensor or camera,such as a rearward viewing imaging sensor or camera 14 a (and the systemmay optionally include multiple exterior facing imaging sensors orcameras, such as a forward viewing camera 14 b at the front (or at thewindshield) of the vehicle, and a sideward/rearward viewing camera 14 c,14 d at respective sides of the vehicle), which captures images exteriorof the vehicle, with the camera having a lens for focusing images at oronto an imaging array or imaging plane or imager of the camera (FIG. 2).The vision system 12 includes a control or electronic control unit (ECU)or processor 18 that is operable to process image data captured by thecameras and may provide displayed images at a display device 16 forviewing by the driver of the vehicle (although shown in FIG. 2 as beingpart of or incorporated in or at an interior rearview mirror assembly 20of the vehicle, the control and/or the display device may be disposedelsewhere at or in the vehicle). The data transfer or signalcommunication from the camera to the ECU may comprise any suitable dataor communication link, such as a vehicle network bus or the like of theequipped vehicle. As shown in FIG. 2A, the camera 14 includes a first orfront housing portion 22 that includes a lens or lens assembly 24, andfurther includes a second or rear housing portion 26 that has aconnector portion 28 for electrically connecting to or receiving one ormore connecting ends of wires of the vehicle when the camera is disposedat a vehicle, as discussed below.

In accordance with the present invention, the data transfer is made viaa coaxial connection to circuitry of the camera or control. Low speedanalog transmissions may be handled by discrete wires which are routedto individual pin headers (such as by utilizing aspects of the systemsdescribed in U.S. Publication No. US-2013-0328672, which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety). These pin headers arecommonly available, and may be manufactured with simple low costcomponents. When attempting to transmit digital signals through thistype of header, the transmission may be compromised due to EMI or RFLeakage.

The present invention outfits an analog style connector system withnovel features to achieve performance on-par with the more expensivecoaxial connectors in high speed digital data applications. Theconnection of the present invention may electrically connect a coaxialwiring connector to a printed circuit board of a device, such as acamera of a vehicle vision system. The connection and camera may utilizeaspects of the connections and cameras described in U.S. Pat. No.8,866,907 and/or U.S. Publication Nos. US-2013-0328672; US-2014-0320636;US-2013-0222595; US-2013-0344736; US-2014-0373345 US-2013-0242099;US-2015-0222795 and/or US-2016-0268716, which are all herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

As shown in FIG. 3, a printed circuit board (PCB) 30 includes an analogheader 32 surrounded by a metal header shield 34 that is soldered to thePCB. The metal shield is designed to retain to the header such that thetwo can be placed in one pick-and-place step in the SMT (surface-mounttechnology) process as used for stuffing components onto a circuit boardduring manufacture of electrical circuitry. This component would be madeof any conductive material, and may or may not be plated. The printedcircuit board includes circuitry of the device, and may includecircuitry on both sides of the board or substrate, such as imagercircuitry of a camera, where the PCB may be disposed in a camerahousing, with a front camera housing including a lens support or barreland a rear camera housing portion having an electrical connector forconnecting to a vehicle wiring harness. The circuit board or boards maybe attached at the front or rear housing, and when the camera isassembled together, the connector at the rear camera housing portionmakes electrical connection to circuitry or connectors at the rearsurface of a rear circuit board of the camera. The circuit boardincludes circuitry associated with the imager or imaging array, and thecircuit board at the connector may be electrically connected (such asvia a flexible connector or ribbon cable or the like) to a second orstacked circuit board of the camera, with the second circuit boardincluding the imager or imaging array of the camera or camera module.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the rear camera housing portion 36 includes aconnecting portion 38 for connecting to a vehicle wiring harness or thelike. The rear camera housing portion 36 may comprise a plastic orpolymeric housing portion molded via an injection molding operation froma polymeric material or resin that is non-electrically conducting. Therear housing portion receives the circuit board 30 therein, whereterminals of the connecting portion electrically conductively connectwith circuitry at the circuit board (such as via the header connector atthe circuit board). In the illustrated embodiment, the terminals of theconnecting portion include ground pins 42 and a video signal pin 44 thatprotrude from the connecting portion so as to be received in respectivereceptacles of a header connector 32 at the circuit board 30 when thecircuit board is attached at the rear housing portion.

A spring shield or clamp 40 is disposed at the rear camera housingportion 36 and comprises a series of clamp features which engage (so asto electrically conductively connect with) the ground pins 42 of theconnector of the device, and includes a center hole to avoid the signalpin 44. The spring shield 40 includes clamp features which, when theconnector is connected to the header 32 of the PCB 30 (such as shown inFIGS. 6 and 6A), bear against the header shield 34 to create acontinuous ground path to the PCB, to shield the center pin 44 in allrelative positions of the PCB and housing, and to protect againstexternal EMI. Thus, when the spring shield and connector are pressedinto engagement with the PCB header (such as when the PCB is attached atthe rear housing portion, such as via one or more fasteners or thelike), the pins 42, 44 are received in their respective receivers of theheader (such as shown in FIG. 6A, where the signal pin 44 is received inand electrically connects to a receiving portion 46 of the header 32)while the spring shield 40 engages and clamps onto and electricallyconductively connects to the header shield 34 at the circuit board 30.

The pin clamps are designed such that the shield can be applied at therear housing portion and at the ground pins 42 with a press, butprovides a high retention force. The clamps that engage the headershield 34 are shaped such that they guide the header into positionbefore the three pins 42, 44 engage the respective parts or receivers ofthe header 32 at the PCB 30. For example, and such as shown in FIGS. 6and 6A, the walls of the spring shield 40 are flared or curved outwardlysuch that any misalignment between the spring shield and the headershield during connection of the parts is accommodated by flexing andguiding of the spring shield walls as the spring shield and headershield are pressed together. The spring shield 40 may be made of anyelectrically conductive spring material, such as, for example, and notlimited to, beryllium copper, phosphor bronze and/or stainless springsteel. Optionally, the spring shield may or may not be plated.

Therefore, the present invention provides a connector with enhancedground connection between the connector at the rear housing portion andthe circuitry at the PCB of the camera or device. The spring clamp iselectrically conductively connected to the ground pins of the connectorand is configured to flex and clamp onto an electrically conductiveshield at and around the header at the PCB when the electrical connectoris connected or plugged into the PCB header (such as during assembly ofthe camera or device). The spring clamp and header shield of the presentinvention thus provide enhanced electrically conductive connection orground connection to the circuitry of the PCB, while easing alignmentand assembly of the connector to the PCB header during assembly of thecamera or device.

Thus, the clamping element may comprise a metallic element that is pressfit attached to the ground pins. The clamping element may comprise anysuitable number of flexible walls (such as, for example, four flexiblewalls) that are biased towards a position where the flexible wallsengage and clamp onto the electrically conductive shield when the camerais assembled. The flexible walls are preferably configured to guide oralign the clamping element with the electrically conductive shieldduring assembly of the camera.

The present invention provides the combination of a high speed dataheader shield with a full enclosure shield as one piece or housingportion. The added function protects against radiated or conducted EMIemissions. These emissions may come from the outside and affect thecircuit board chips, or the chips may radiate interference to devicesoutside the camera.

As shown in FIGS. 7-9, the shield element may comprise a flat orunfolded state (FIG. 8) and may be folded to its use or implementationstate (FIG. 7), whereby the shield may be inserted into the rear camerahousing such that the connector portions may protrude through aperturesformed in the shield. As can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, the spring shieldor clamping shield element may be formed as part of the shield element.As shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, when the shield is disposed in the rearcamera housing, the connector portions at the rear housing may protrudethrough the respective apertures and the clamping shield element isdisposed at the connector region for electrically connecting orgrounding with electrical connector elements of the PCB header. Theopenings through the shield element that receive the terminals areformed such that the shield element engages and bites into or pressesagainst the ground connect pin or terminal and such that the shieldelement is spaced from the video pin or terminal.

The shield has a robust grounding scheme by contacting the shield of thePCB header and the exposed ground pads on the PCB where it contacts thescrew bosses. Reducing seams and voids is important, so these gaps canbe closed by interlocking the stamping to itself (see FIG. 10), or bywelding. As can be seen with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the flat orunfolded or stamped shield element (FIG. 8) is folded to its foldedstate, whereby flanges or lips of adjacent corner regions of the shieldelement may overlap to provide a closed shield element to limit EMIwaves from passing through the shield element. Also, the shield could beformed as a deep draw stamping to eliminate all gaps.

In the illustrated embodiment, the shield is intended to be assembledinto the housing, but optionally the shield may be insert molded andcould also be placed into the tool during the molding of the housing. Insuch an insert molded application, it may be advantageous to have holesor slots strategically placed in the stamping to allow the moldedplastic housing material (molded via an injection molding process) toflow through or around the stamping during the molding process to helpwith retention of the metal insert within the housing. The holes wouldbe sized such that EMI waves of the size of concern would be attenuatedor could not pass through.

An additional benefit of the shield of the present invention is improveddistribution of heat when combined with a thermal median such as aconductive pad or paste. The stamping would pull heat away from highpower components, reducing their steady state operating temperature andimproving performance. Optionally, a conductive polymer may be used toimprove heat distribution further.

The shield of the present invention offers a cost savings as compared toa housing made as a die casting, or as compared to a plastic housingcoated in metal with a process such as vapor deposition. The shield maybe made of any metal, but Phosphor Bronze, Cartridge Brass, or BerylliumCopper would be common choices. The shield may or may not be plated.

Optionally, the camera is configured to electrically connect to acoaxial cable connector. Such coaxial cables fulfill various functions,such as for an Ethernet connection. Transmission of video data overcoaxial cabling and utilizing the connectors of the present inventionhas several advantages, including enhanced protection against hacking orcorruption due to cyber-attacks and the like on a vehicle equipped withthe vehicle cameras and connection system of the present invention. Forexample, in a surround vision system comprising at least three vehiclecameras, it is preferred to use Ethernet cabling and the connectionsystem of the present invention for transmission of image data capturedby the respective video cameras of a vehicular multi-camera surroundvision system to a central ECU where video manipulation and imagestitching can be performed to generate a composite bird's eye or topview or panoramic view image for display to a driver of the equippedvehicle. Ethernet equipped vision systems that benefit from the vehiclecameras and connecting system of the present invention include systemsof the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,126,525; 9,041,806 and/orU.S. Publication Nos. US-2015-0042807; US-2014-0340510; US-2014-0218535and/or US-2012-0218412, which are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties.

Optionally, the coaxial cable structure with flexible pin andshielding—crimp ferule of the present invention may be paired withdifferent connector types, such as connectors having a single pin, suchas shown in FIGS. 3-6A, or multiple pins having a common circumferentialshielding or one shielding each. For example, the rear camera housingmay include a connector portion that has a cylindrical portion throughwhich a flexible end or pin of the coaxial connector may extend, and theconnector portion also includes a multi-pin connector portion thatreceives the pins or terminals of a multi-pin connector (such asdescribed above), which may then electrically connect to terminals andcircuitry at the circuit board. The flexible pin of the coaxial cableconnector and the terminals of the multi-pin connector may connect tocircuitry elements at the PCB during assembly of the camera, such asdiscussed above. The shield of the single pins may optionally be done bymetallization of the camera rear housing inner wall next to theto-be-shielded pin.

Thus, the connector or connectors of the rear housing portion may bemolded with the housing portion and includes a multi-pin connectorportion and a coaxial connector portion (with the terminals insertmolded with the connector during the molding process that forms the rearhousing portion). The multi-pin connector portion receives multi-pinconnector terminals therein, and the terminals (which may be pins orreceiving elements for receiving pins) engage corresponding terminals(such as receiving elements or pins or circuitry elements) at thecircuit board when the circuit board is moved into engagement with theterminals. The circuit board may include a header shield and theconnector portion may include a spring shield or clamp that, when theconnector is connected to the header shield of the PCB, bear against theheader shield to create a continuous ground path to the PCB, to shieldthe center pin in all relative positions of the PCB and housing, and toprotect against external EMI, such as discussed above. The connectors(including the multi-pin connector portion and the coaxial connectorportion) may be formed adjacent to one another or as part of a singleconnector, or may be formed separate from one another as separate anddistinct connectors of the camera housing.

The coaxial connector portion receives a coaxial connector therein, withan extended core pin of the coaxial connector extending to contact acircuit element at the circuit board, and with the crimped ferule of thecoaxial connector being press fit or interference fit within the coaxialconnector portion. The inner surface of the coaxial connector portionmay be metalized or otherwise electrically conductive, with thatmetalized surface being in electrical connection with a circuit elementat the circuit board when the camera is assembled together. Optionally,and desirably, due to the extended length of the core pin from theferule, a dielectric element may be disposed along the core pin andwithin the coaxial connector portion to limit lateral flexing of thecore pin and shorting of the core pin at the electrically conductive ormetalized inner surface during assembly of the camera and during useover the lifetime of the camera at a vehicle. The core pin may comprisea spring-loaded core pin to enhance electrical contact and connection atthe circuit element of the circuit board when the camera is assembled.

The camera or sensor may comprise any suitable camera or sensor.Optionally, the camera may comprise a “smart camera” that includes theimaging sensor array and associated circuitry and image processingcircuitry and electrical connectors and the like as part of a cameramodule, such as by utilizing aspects of the vision systems described inInternational Publication Nos. WO 2013/081984 and/or WO 2013/081985,which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

The system includes an image processor operable to process image datacaptured by the camera or cameras, such as for detecting objects orother vehicles or pedestrians or the like in the field of view of one ormore of the cameras. For example, the image processor may comprise animage processing chip selected from the EYEQ family of image processingchips available from Mobileye Vision Technologies Ltd. of Jerusalem,Israel, and may include object detection software (such as the typesdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,855,755; 7,720,580 and/or 7,038,577, whichare hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties), andmay analyze image data to detect vehicles and/or other objects.Responsive to such image processing, and when an object or other vehicleis detected, the system may generate an alert to the driver of thevehicle and/or may generate an overlay at the displayed image tohighlight or enhance display of the detected object or vehicle, in orderto enhance the driver's awareness of the detected object or vehicle orhazardous condition during a driving maneuver of the equipped vehicle.

The vehicle may include any type of sensor or sensors, such as imagingsensors or radar sensors or lidar sensors or ladar sensors or ultrasonicsensors or the like. The imaging sensor or camera may capture image datafor image processing and may comprise any suitable camera or sensingdevice, such as, for example, a two dimensional array of a plurality ofphotosensor elements arranged in at least 640 columns and 480 rows (atleast a 640×480 imaging array, such as a megapixel imaging array or thelike), with a respective lens focusing images onto respective portionsof the array. The photosensor array may comprise a plurality ofphotosensor elements arranged in a photosensor array having rows andcolumns. Preferably, the imaging array has at least 300,000 photosensorelements or pixels, more preferably at least 500,000 photosensorelements or pixels and more preferably at least 1 million photosensorelements or pixels. The imaging array may capture color image data, suchas via spectral filtering at the array, such as via an RGB (red, greenand blue) filter or via a red/red complement filter or such as via anRCC (red, clear, clear) filter or the like. The logic and controlcircuit of the imaging sensor may function in any known manner, and theimage processing and algorithmic processing may comprise any suitablemeans for processing the images and/or image data.

For example, the vision system and/or processing and/or camera and/orcircuitry may utilize aspects described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,694,224;7,005,974; 5,760,962; 5,877,897; 5,796,094; 5,949,331; 6,302,545;6,396,397; 6,498,620; 6,523,964; 6,611,202; 6,201,642; 6,690,268;6,717,610; 6,757,109; 6,802,617; 6,806,452; 6,822,563; 6,891,563;6,946,978; 7,859,565; 5,550,677; 5,670,935; 7,881,496; 7,720,580;7,038,577; 6,882,287; 5,929,786 and/or 5,786,772, which are all herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties. The system maycommunicate with other communication systems via any suitable means,such as by utilizing aspects of the systems described in InternationalPublication Nos. WO 2010/144900; WO 2013/043661 and/or WO 2013/081985,and/or U.S. Publication No. US-2012-0062743, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

The camera may include electrical connecting elements that accommodatetolerances in the housing and/or PCB mounting and/or connector portion.The electrical connecting elements may utilize aspects of the camerasand electrical connectors described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,233,641 and/orU.S. Publication Nos. US-2013-0242099; US-2014-0373345; US-2015-0222795;US-2015-0266430; US-2015-0365569; US-2016-0037028; US-2016-0268716and/or US-2017-0054881, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/341,048, filed Nov. 2, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,250,004, and/orU.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 62/319,953, filed Apr. 8, 2016,and/or Ser. No. 62/322,334, filed Apr. 14, 2016, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Optionally, the vision system may include a display for displayingimages captured by one or more of the imaging sensors for viewing by thedriver of the vehicle while the driver is normally operating thevehicle. Optionally, for example, the vision system may include a videodisplay device disposed at or in the interior rearview mirror assemblyof the vehicle, such as by utilizing aspects of the video mirror displaysystems described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,690,268 and/or U.S. Publication No.US-2012-0162427, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties. The video mirror display may comprise any suitabledevices and systems and optionally may utilize aspects of the compassdisplay systems described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,370,983; 7,329,013;7,308,341; 7,289,037; 7,249,860; 7,004,593; 4,546,551; 5,699,044;4,953,305; 5,576,687; 5,632,092; 5,677,851; 5,708,410; 5,737,226;5,802,727; 5,878,370; 6,087,953; 6,173,508; 6,222,460; 6,513,252 and/or6,642,851, and/or U.S. Publication No. US-2006-0061008, which are allhereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Optionally,the video mirror display screen or device may be operable to displayimages captured by a rearward viewing camera of the vehicle during areversing maneuver of the vehicle (such as responsive to the vehiclegear actuator being placed in a reverse gear position or the like) toassist the driver in backing up the vehicle, and optionally may beoperable to display the compass heading or directional heading characteror icon when the vehicle is not undertaking a reversing maneuver, suchas when the vehicle is being driven in a forward direction along a road(such as by utilizing aspects of the display system described inInternational Publication No. WO 2012/051500, which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety).

Optionally, the vision system (utilizing the forward facing camera and arearward facing camera and other cameras disposed at the vehicle withexterior fields of view) may be part of or may provide a display of atop-down view or birds-eye view system of the vehicle or a surround viewat the vehicle, such as by utilizing aspects of the vision systemsdescribed in International Publication Nos. WO 2010/099416; WO2011/028686; WO 2012/075250; WO 2013/019795; WO 2012/075250; WO2012/145822; WO 2013/081985; WO 2013/086249 and/or WO 2013/109869,and/or U.S. Publication No. US-2012-0162427, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments canbe carried out without departing from the principles of the invention,which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appendedclaims, as interpreted according to the principles of patent lawincluding the doctrine of equivalents.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A vehicular camera, said vehicular cameracomprising: a front housing portion comprising at least one lens; acircuit board having circuitry established thereat; a rear plastichousing portion having a connector configured for electricallyconnecting to a connector end of a wire harness of a vehicle when saidvehicular camera is disposed at the vehicle; wherein said rear plastichousing portion comprises internal wall structure; wherein saidconnector comprises a video signal terminal and a ground-connectterminal; an electrically conductive metallic shield element disposedwithin said rear plastic housing portion and corresponding with saidinternal wall structure of said rear plastic housing portion; andwherein said video signal terminal is electrically connected to saidcircuitry of said circuit board, and wherein said ground-connectterminal is electrically connected to said electrically conductivemetallic shield element.
 2. The vehicular camera of claim 1, whereinsaid front housing portion is joined with said rear plastic housingportion.
 3. The vehicular camera of claim 2, comprising an imagercircuit board attached at said front housing portion, wherein saidimager circuit board has an imager disposed thereat.
 4. The vehicularcamera of claim 3, wherein said circuit board is attached at said rearplastic housing portion.
 5. The vehicular camera of claim 1, whereinsaid electrically conductive metallic shield element is shaped by diestamping flat metallic stock.
 6. The vehicular camera of claim 1,wherein said rear plastic housing portion is formed by plastic injectionmolding.
 7. The vehicular camera of claim 1, wherein said electricallyconductive metallic shield element is insert molded at said internalwall structure of said rear plastic housing portion during molding ofsaid rear plastic housing portion.
 8. The vehicular camera of claim 1,wherein said connector is insert molded in said rear plastic housingportion during molding of said rear plastic housing portion.
 9. Thevehicular camera of claim 1, wherein said electrically conductivemetallic shield element includes a clamping element in electricallyconductive connection with said ground-connect terminal and electricallyisolated from said video signal terminal.
 10. The vehicular camera ofclaim 9, wherein said circuit board comprises a header connector thatelectrically connects with said video signal terminal and saidground-connect terminal of said connector, and wherein said clampingelement comprises a plurality of flexible walls that are biased towardsa position where said flexible walls engage and clamp onto said headerconnector of said circuit board.
 11. The vehicular camera of claim 1,wherein said circuit board comprises a header connector thatelectrically connects with said video signal terminal and saidground-connect terminal of said connector.
 12. The vehicular camera ofclaim 11, wherein said electrically conductive metallic shield elementincludes a clamping element that receives said header connector therein,and wherein said clamping element comprises flexible walls that arebiased towards a position where said flexible walls engage and clamponto said header connector of said circuit board.
 13. The vehicularcamera of claim 1, wherein said circuit board is attached at said rearplastic housing portion and holds said video signal terminal and saidground-connect terminal of said connector electrically engaged withcircuitry of said circuit board.
 14. The vehicular camera of claim 13,wherein said circuit board is attached at said rear plastic housingportion via at least one fastener, and wherein said electricallyconductive metallic shield element comprises a portion that engages thefastener and a ground element of said circuit board.
 15. A vehicularcamera, said vehicular camera comprising: a front housing portioncomprising at least one lens; a circuit board having circuitryestablished thereat; a rear plastic housing portion having a connectorconfigured for electrically connecting to a connector end of a wireharness of a vehicle when said vehicular camera is disposed at thevehicle; wherein said rear plastic housing portion is formed by plasticinjection molding; wherein said rear plastic housing portion comprisesinternal wall structure; wherein said connector comprises a video signalterminal and a ground-connect terminal; wherein said circuit boardcomprises a header connector that electrically connects with said videosignal terminal and said ground-connect terminal of said connector; anelectrically conductive metallic shield element disposed within saidrear plastic housing portion and corresponding with said internal wallstructure of said rear plastic housing portion; and wherein said videosignal terminal is electrically connected to said circuitry of saidcircuit board via said header connector, and wherein said ground-connectterminal is electrically connected to said electrically conductivemetallic shield element via said header connector.
 16. The vehicularcamera of claim 15, wherein said front housing portion is joined withsaid rear plastic housing portion.
 17. The vehicular camera of claim 16,comprising an imager circuit board attached at said front housingportion, wherein said imager circuit board has an imager disposedthereat.
 18. The vehicular camera of claim 17, wherein said circuitboard is attached at said rear plastic housing portion.
 19. Thevehicular camera of claim 15, wherein said electrically conductivemetallic shield element is insert molded at said internal wall structureof said rear plastic housing portion during injection molding of saidrear plastic housing portion.
 20. The vehicular camera of claim 15,wherein said connector is insert molded in said rear plastic housingportion during injection molding of said rear plastic housing portion.21. The vehicular camera of claim 15, wherein said electricallyconductive metallic shield element includes a clamping element thatreceives said header connector therein, and wherein said clampingelement comprises flexible walls that are biased towards a positionwhere said flexible walls engage and clamp onto said header connector ofsaid circuit board.
 22. A vehicular camera, said vehicular cameracomprising: a front housing portion comprising at least one lens; acircuit board having circuitry established thereat; a rear plastichousing portion having a connector configured for electricallyconnecting to a connector end of a wire harness of a vehicle when saidvehicular camera is disposed at the vehicle; wherein said rear plastichousing portion comprises internal wall structure; wherein said fronthousing portion is joined with said rear plastic housing portion;wherein said connector comprises a video signal terminal and aground-connect terminal; wherein said circuit board comprises a headerconnector that electrically connects with said video signal terminal andsaid ground-connect terminal of said connector; an electricallyconductive metallic shield element disposed within said rear plastichousing portion and corresponding with said internal wall structure ofsaid rear plastic housing portion; wherein said electrically conductivemetallic shield element includes a clamping element that receives saidheader connector therein, and wherein said clamping element comprisesflexible walls that are biased towards a position where said flexiblewalls engage and clamp onto said header connector of said circuit board;and wherein said video signal terminal is electrically connected to saidcircuitry of said circuit board via said header connector, and whereinsaid ground-connect terminal is electrically connected to saidelectrically conductive metallic shield element via said headerconnector and said clamping element.
 23. The vehicular camera of claim22, comprising an imager circuit board attached at said front housingportion, wherein said imager circuit board has an imager disposedthereat.
 24. The vehicular camera of claim 23, wherein said circuitboard is attached at said rear plastic housing portion.
 25. Thevehicular camera of claim 22, wherein said electrically conductivemetallic shield element is insert molded at said internal wall structureof said rear plastic housing portion during molding of said rear plastichousing portion.
 26. The vehicular camera of claim 22, wherein saidconnector is insert molded in said rear plastic housing portion duringmolding of said rear plastic housing portion.